Baroque Period

The Baroque movement originated in Italy in the late1500’s (spanning through to the 1700’s) and was later accepted by France, Germany, Netherlands and Spain. This art period was a reaction against the formulaic Mannerist style, which was the dominant form during the late Renaissance. Baroque style is more realistic and emotional than the complex Mannerist style. The movement was greatly encouraged by the Catholic Church because it marked a return to tradition and spirituality.

Bold, curving forms, elaborate ornamentation, conspicuous use of decoration, sculpture, and color and overall balance of disparate parts characterize Baroque. The Aristocratic Baroque centered around three ideas: absolutism, academicism, and rationalism, and what are they?

Absolutism

Absolute monarchy or absolutism meant that the sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right. Late sixteenth century political theorists believed that sovereign power consisted of the authority to make laws, tax, administer justice, control the state's administrative system, and determine foreign policy. These powers made a ruler sovereign.

Absolutism argues that government was divinely ordained so that humans could live in an organized society. Of all forms of government, monarchy was the most general, most ancient, most natural, and the best, since God established kings and through them reigned over all the people of the world. Since kings received their power from God, their authority was absolute. They were responsible to no one (including parliaments) except God.

Academicism

The seventeenth century was a seminal period in the development of French culture Louis XIV acquired exclusive rights to a first painter who was a match for the grandeur of his aspirations. Charles LeBrun became the all-powerful, peerless master of seventeenth century French art. Le Brun certainly influenced French art, directing it toward the Grand Manner so favored by King Louis XIV. Le Brun was appointed the director of the reorganized Académie for what art historians call academicism or the control of artistic expression by an established academy. The Royal Academy became a system for insuring that the visual arts glorified the king. Its authority extended beyond just funding of the arts, and it educated artists only in the officially approved 'royal' style. A rigid set of rules dictated the instruction of practice and theory, with a strong emphasis on Classicism. Most important French artists of the next generation trained in his studio under the influence of Académie. This was in part because Le Brun appreciated talent and in part because there was little future for French artists who did not submit to the authority of Le Brun and the Académie. Le Brun proceeded in making the Académie an instrument for imposing his views and judgments onto French artists--largely theories based on Poussin, which had so influenced him. He codified a system of art and discouraged innovation and experiment. He promoted discussions over the relative merits of Rubensisme and Poussinisme and of course Poussin emerged the victor. Le Brun's lectures came to be accepted as providing the official standards of artistic expression. This was important because the crown was such an important element of patronage and so influential. Thus if an artist wanted to obtain lucrative commissions, he needed to conform to Le Brun's standards. Le Brun for his part was quite willing to conform to the King's tastes. He also strongly believed that artistic expression could be reduced to a series of rules and teachable elements.

Rationalism

Understanding the various forms of baroque art requires knowledge of its historical context. The 17th century could be called the first modern age. Human awareness of the world was continuously expanding. Many scientific discoveries influenced art; Galileo's investigations of the planets, for example, account for astronomical accuracy in many paintings of the time. The assertion of the Polish astronomer Copernicus that the planets did not revolve around the earth was only fully accepted after 1600. The realization that the earth was not at the center of the universe coincided in art with the rise of pure landscape painting devoid of human figures. The active trade and colonization policies of many European nations accounted for numerous portrayals of exotic places and peoples.

http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_baroque.html

http://www.aspectart.com/movements/baroque.php

http://gallery.sjsu.edu/paris/the_academy/salon.htm

http://www.uib.no/ped/baroque.html

What Is Art?

Art is beauty. Art is a way of communicating with your soul. Art is incredibly subjective . Art is what your minds eye sees and understands and enjoys looking at it. The notion of the beauty is very important when we talk about art, so trying to take that notion of beauty instead of judgment put it into file, because we have to take a look at art without whether it is beautiful piece or not.

Art can mean transferring that special atmosphere that describes the ultimate thing (god, life, universe, spirit – whatever you call it). The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. Art is hard to describe but you know it when you see it. Art may be painting, sculpture, photography, pottery, or mixed media.

However not all people can agree on art. Therefore it is very important to know at least the intention of the artist, and what objectives of that particular artist had in mind, and then we can start talking about it. They may try to transfer some political and social messages or objectives to their viewers. For example, some of the abstract paintings look like any kindergarten child could do that. Some one else can look at the same picture and see the use of color and form and grasp a concept that other can't. You can have your own opinion and interpretation on art but still needs to be based and sounded on particular content of particular artist. once again art is very subjective.

Calligraphy

Art refers to a diverse range of human activities and artifacts, and may be used to cover all or any of the art, including music literature, calligraphy and other forms. It is most often used to refer specifically to the visual arts, including media such as painting, sculpture, and calligraphy. Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. It is believed to be one of the most eyes catching and fascinating manifestation of art is calligraphy. Calligraphy has been considered among the artistic symbols, letters and elements, which form the word, always bear undeniable aesthetic qualities. Writing is the oldest mean through which man's spiritual and cultural acquisitions were transmitted from generation to generation. In the course of time, this art found applications in various domains, appearing as a decorative element on carved stone panels and monument facades, terra cotta vessels, wood, fabric and etc. for example, This is Persian calligraphy.

http://arthistory.about.com/cs/reference/f/what_is_art.htm
http://www.caroun.com/Calligraphy/aCalligraphyGeneral/HistoryIranCalligraphy.htm